10-02-2014, 07:38 PM
Hi,
Thank you Colin and Gary for your kind comments. Yes I'm now pleased with it but what a project it turned into which is normal for me once I get stuck into something. I wouldn't recommend a novice to play around drastically changing the entire drive the way I have done with this Wilmac. Installing the new main-shaft bearing housings looks simple but the problem is one of alignment; the band has to track perfectly so I took a lot of care in bottom wheel alignment; using this kind of cast iron bearing housing allows massive variation in shaft alignment because the two bearings are self aligning to the shaft so in effect one bearing housing could be mounted 1/4" out in relation to the other and once this is understood then it will be obvious that the bottom band-wheel could have been miles out? This is why I took the trouble to turn a very accurate wooden spacer in order to center the main-shaft but it was still tricky to get it just right. If the band is at all out on the wheels it throws all the other adjustments out in fact if the wheels are not just right the bandsaw would be useless; adjusting the table to compensate won't correct this because then the upper guide arm would also then be out as the upper guides were raised. I've spent quite a while this afternoon making final adjustment using an engineers square; its been a challenge and I've enjoyed it ending up with a more robust bandsaw. Thanks for asking.
Its possible I'll be changing the motor and starter at a later date so I've not bothered colour coding these and I might even find a new position for it in the garage but for the moment I'm pleased to have it running.
Yes Gary it would be a shame to scratch it but this equally applies to the restored Graduate.
Regarding the age of the Lorch Lathe I'm now restoring it could well be pre WW2 Gary but like this Wilmac Band-saw I'm unable to find any information on the web which is unusual but once I get some spare time I'll do a bit of research and if I find anything I'll report back.
This Wilmac restoration dragged on considering the size of it and it was hanging over me so I thought I'd make a big last push today to complete it so now I can concentrate fully on the Lorch lathe restoration which is already progressing slowly.
When I bought this Wilmac it was posted on eBay as buyer refurbished; it must have been rough before?
Thanks everyone for showing an interest in this restoration and for your valued posts. I'll try to keep finding unusual restorations not only in order to share the stories but for my own personal interest as I love getting dirty playing around with lumps of scrap?
Kind regards, Col.
Thank you Colin and Gary for your kind comments. Yes I'm now pleased with it but what a project it turned into which is normal for me once I get stuck into something. I wouldn't recommend a novice to play around drastically changing the entire drive the way I have done with this Wilmac. Installing the new main-shaft bearing housings looks simple but the problem is one of alignment; the band has to track perfectly so I took a lot of care in bottom wheel alignment; using this kind of cast iron bearing housing allows massive variation in shaft alignment because the two bearings are self aligning to the shaft so in effect one bearing housing could be mounted 1/4" out in relation to the other and once this is understood then it will be obvious that the bottom band-wheel could have been miles out? This is why I took the trouble to turn a very accurate wooden spacer in order to center the main-shaft but it was still tricky to get it just right. If the band is at all out on the wheels it throws all the other adjustments out in fact if the wheels are not just right the bandsaw would be useless; adjusting the table to compensate won't correct this because then the upper guide arm would also then be out as the upper guides were raised. I've spent quite a while this afternoon making final adjustment using an engineers square; its been a challenge and I've enjoyed it ending up with a more robust bandsaw. Thanks for asking.
Its possible I'll be changing the motor and starter at a later date so I've not bothered colour coding these and I might even find a new position for it in the garage but for the moment I'm pleased to have it running.
Yes Gary it would be a shame to scratch it but this equally applies to the restored Graduate.
Regarding the age of the Lorch Lathe I'm now restoring it could well be pre WW2 Gary but like this Wilmac Band-saw I'm unable to find any information on the web which is unusual but once I get some spare time I'll do a bit of research and if I find anything I'll report back.
This Wilmac restoration dragged on considering the size of it and it was hanging over me so I thought I'd make a big last push today to complete it so now I can concentrate fully on the Lorch lathe restoration which is already progressing slowly.
When I bought this Wilmac it was posted on eBay as buyer refurbished; it must have been rough before?
Thanks everyone for showing an interest in this restoration and for your valued posts. I'll try to keep finding unusual restorations not only in order to share the stories but for my own personal interest as I love getting dirty playing around with lumps of scrap?
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
